Musings in the life of an internist, cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Stand Proud

Stand proud, young doctor, as you no longer get pizza for lunch from drug and industry reps. Medical students, residents, staff physicians and nurses the world over can look forward to the fact that no impropriety can ever be bestowed upon them since they will no longer be coerced by those clueless drug and industry reps. That's right, no more toys.

Clean.

Pristine.

Virginal.

So carry the flag of purity proudly.

Meanwhile, rest assured that others will be wined and dined to discuss the next purchasing contract, and some hospital administrators will continue to rub noses with their existing contract recipients in Las Vegas. Feel good knowing that once their contracts are re-approved, those same contractors will become a Premium Sponsor of the next Hospital Gala to the support the hospital's philanthropy fund...or, maybe a round of golf? After all, we mustn't forget that hospitals ARE the economy!

So hold your head high, dear employees, as you buy your own lunch. Take pride that your integrity can no longer be questioned, your mission pure, and the cause just...

...and revel in the knowledge that others are still making out like bandits.

"Dr. Arthur S. Levine, dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, said that when he graduated from medical school in 1964, Eli Lilly gave him his first doctor’s bag, and Roche gave him an Omega watch for being valedictorian. He still has the watch.

But this year’s graduating class of doctors at Pittsburgh will not be allowed to accept any of these gifts, and the daily pizza lunches brought by drug companies are gone, he said."

Once again, Dr Wes, you have hit the nail on the head. The day that a pizza gets me to change how I treat my patients is the day I pack it in.Meanwhile, the "good guys" pack their bags for Las Vegas or Marina del Rey!!! Lord help us all!

About Me

Westby G. Fisher, MD, FACC is a board certified internist, cardiologist, and cardiac electrophysiologist (doctor specializing in heart rhythm disorders) practicing at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, IL, USA and is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine. He entered the blog-o-sphere in November, 2005.
DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this blog are strictly the those of the author(s) and should not be construed as the opinion(s) or policy(ies) of NorthShore University HealthSystem, nor recommendations for your care or anyone else's. Please seek professional guidance instead.